Jenny's Reviews

It’s always the right time for making new friends! But, just in case you need some ideas—good ones, silly ones, and questionable ones—Ways to Make Friends is the go-to book to get the conversation started. This book tells a new story every time you open it, with so much to discover in the playfully packed illustrations and silly suggestions. It's the perfect memory-making experience for story time. —Jenny

There are very good reasons why Archbishop Desmond Tutu was admired throughout the world. Reading God’s Dream to your children will start so many wonderful conversations and tap into themes of kindness, hurt, forgiveness, inclusion, and more of Tutu’s Ubuntu philosophy. The children are from diverse backgrounds, the illustrations a welcome reflection of the world we live in. A simple, tangible, and hopeful perspective on how we all can choose to walk through life.  —Jenny

If you love home design and DIY projects, this is a book you’ll be able to use for reference and inspiration. The New Design Rules is packed with beautiful style, helpful tips, and stunning photography, and includes all the basics you didn’t know you didn’t know. This book gave me the vision to “shop” what I already have in my own house—rearranging and reclaiming spaces that just needed some attention to bring beauty and whimsy I can appreciate every day.  —Jenny

Sally Schmitt, one of the originators of the California farm-to-table movement and founder of French Laundry in Napa Valley, invites us into the six kitchens—both personal and professional—that shaped her culinary philosophy and life. Filled with stories, recipes, and history, Six California Kitchens celebrates Schmitt’s dedication to “sharing the joy of cooking with hope, gentleness, and love” and will kindle your own memories of kitchens and food cooked with care.  —Jenny

Go ahead and judge this book by its cover, because what looks exciting on the outside is just a teaser for what’s on the inside. No matter your level of cooking, you’ll savor the flavors, ingredients, techniques, and stories Martínez shares from his home in the heart of Mexico. The mole, the adobo sauces, the tortillas…start somewhere and see where it leads. Your friends and family will thank you!  —Jenny

Denk, one of the world’s greatest living pianists, shares his story and his passion for classical music in this completely engaging memoir. I enjoyed this book from the introduction to the bibliography. It was so friendly and relatable, and all of my own music-learning memories found a place in his story. With the music references at the beginning of each chapter and sprinkled throughout the book, it felt like there was a soundtrack playing the whole time. Whether you’re a musician or just a music appreciator, you’ll love the lessons in this well-written memoir.  —Jenny

Morgan Harper Nichols’s new book examines stories from her own life and the lives of people around the world with a common thread: We all long for peace. Peace is a Practice invites you to become a peacemaker in your own life, starting right where you are, and in some of the most unexpected places. This is not a “just breathe” book, or a “do this and feel better” book, but a new look at how to sit with yourself, notice what is, and extend grace to yourself and others. Nichols’s beautiful poetry and affirmations, combined with her well-known illustration style, kept me turning pages and soaking it all in.  —Jenny

Newly independent readers will find Penny and Her Sled a great next step. Full of beautiful illustrations for context clues—with plenty of repeating words—young readers will feel successful and delighted by this book. Told in five short chapters, this is a story about patience, imagination, and how to share feelings when things don't go quite as expected. A beautiful addition to any child's bookshelf.—Jenny

The cat is back—this time standing in for the dog, who's sick. Goofiness ensues as "the book" tries to direct the cat to do dog-like tasks, tasks the cat finds revolting! Not so easy for a cat to be a dog, after all. Early readers will appreciate the simple sentence structure and fun illustrations. Adults reading along with kids will surely enjoy the shared humor-filled experience, too.—Jenny

Is it a travel book? Is it a history book? Is it a foodie book? Is it a curiosity book? YES! Take a trip around the world, visit all seven continents, and learn more about food, culture, civilization, and geography than you ever knew you cared about. It’s the TikTok of books—I didn’t know I would find 2000-year-old Egyptian egg ovens fascinating, but I can’t stop telling everyone about them now! It’s a feast for the eyes, the mind, and the stomach. Makes a great gift for the person who can’t get enough information and loves to wonder about the world.—Jenny